Need for Speed Payback
By Paul Semel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Decent yet flawed illegal street racer grinds its gears.
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Need for Speed Payback
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
MANUAL CONTROLS IS THIS A JOKE?
This game is the best
What’s It About?
In NEED FOR SPEED PAYBACK, you're an ex-illegal street racer who has to work his way back up the circuit. Your objective: to get revenge on someone who double-crossed you so that you can make it up to the former members of your crew, who you'll also get to play as. In other words, it's more like the original Fast and the Furious than Fate of the Furious. Players will enter lots of races, pull off stunts, and cruise around town like a man (or a woman) on a mission. They'll also have the option to potentially collect wrecked vehicles and build them into the ultimate version of a drag racer, off-road car, or other kind of machine.
Is It Any Good?
Though it's a noticeable improvement over the previous model, this illegal street racing game is neither the best seen from the series, nor this year's best driving game. In Need for Speed Payback, you play as a former street racer trying to rebuild your reputation -- and your friendships with your former crew. Which is really just an excuse to do a ton of illegal street races, off-road contests, and cool movie-style stunts. Just be careful, as the whole "illegal" thing might draw the attention of the local police, who you'll then have to knock out of the way or just outrun.
The thing is, while the racing is solid, and the stunt work is unique and challenging -- thanks to the game's solid controls and twisty tracks -- the boring characters and their clichéd dialogue makes the story stuff rather tiresome. This is reinforced when they start yapping away in the middle of a race. Also, since the game seems to be set on a holiday Sunday when everyone's out of town, the roads are rather empty, thus eliminating the fun and challenge of having to weave in and out of traffic. Competing in races can also turn into a grind, as they quickly become a matter of completing a number of races just to get the right parts to advance the story. All of which makes this game feel like it's trying to be Forza Horizon 3 but isn't even up to the first one of those games. Still, if you've enjoyed previous installments of this racing series, you'll have a thrilling ride with Need for Speed Payback.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about road safety. Does this game show you why it's important to obey the rules of the road? How about when they show you a car crash in slow motion?
Talk about revenge. What does this game show you about the pitfalls of revenge?
Families can talk about friendship. In the game, you're trying to win back your friends. Why are friends important?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Release date: November 8, 2017
- Genre: Racing
- Topics: Cars and Trucks , Adventures
- ESRB rating: T for Language, Mild Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Last updated: September 10, 2021
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